Ear-massage apparatus.



No. 7l7,407. Patented Dec. 30, I902.

NI. B. HUTCHISUN.

VI EAR MASSAGE APPARATUS.

(Application filed ME!.'27, 1902.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILLER REESE HUTOI-IISON, OF UPPER MONTOLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO HUTOHISON ACOUSTIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

EAR-MASSAGE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,407, dated December 3 90 Application filed March 27, 1902. Serial No. 100,176. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILLER REEsE HUTOHI- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Upper Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ear-Massage Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to apparatus for treating the ears of deaf persons by a massaging process which subjects the ear-drum and auricular bones to rapidly-recurring sharp sounds, thus exercising those parts, promoting'circulatiou, and improving the general physical condition. In the massaginginstruments of this character which have been used heretofore a diaphragm is rapidly vibrated by an electromagnet in a circuit containing a second electromagnetic make-and-break device which creates the necessary interruption of the current to cause the Vibrations of the diaphragm. Such apparatus usually. produces a buzz or humming sound in which the individual vibrations are lost or indistinct. This kind of a sound does not satisfactorily massage the parts of the car, since what is desired is rapidly-recurring, sharp, clear, and well-defined individual sounds. The reason why such massaging instruments do not afford the most effective character of sounds is because the electromagnetic coil used for interrupting the circuit in addition to the coil which acts upon the diaphragm reacts inductively upon the circuit and prevents the coil which controls the diaphragm -from getting the full benefit of the working current on the circuit. In other words, theacounter electro other details, which will'be fully pointed out hereinafter.

ed with socket 1'.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved instrument. Fig. 2 is a central section thereof on a larger scale than Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation with the cover of the case removed. Fig. i is a front elevation of the instrument. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, with the earpiece removed; and Fig. 6 is a View of the inner end of the removable earpiece.

The instrument is provided with an inclosing casing A, preferably of insulating material, such as hard rubber, and is usually made cylindrical in shape, with a cover A, adapted to screw onto the front thereof. This cover carries a diaphragm B, which is held in place by a clamping-ring b, and by adjusting the position of the cover upon the casing the distance of the diaphragm from the magnet, which will be hereinafter described,can be regulated. Inside of the casing there is mounted an electromagnet O, having two pole-pieces extending within operative distance of the diaphragm and being somewhat elongated to provide working space for an armature e, which is pivoted in the posts 6. This armature carries a contact-springf, which is adapted to make and break connection with a contact f in a post f The internal parts of the instrument are" all secured to a brass or other plate 19, from which the post f is insulated, as shown. Two openings 2' and i are provided in the casing for the insertion of plugs or circuit-terminals leading from a suitable source of electricity. These openings have metal bushings j, and one of them is connected with the brass plate 19, while the other, (shown in Fig. 2,) though mechanically connected with said plate, is insulated therefrom. The circuit from the plate passes to the contact-spring f, thence to the post f thence by conductor 1 to the electromagnet, thence by conductor 2 to the binding-screw connect- When the magnet is energized, it simultaneously attracts the diaphragm and the armature e. The movement of the diaphragm causes it to emit a sound, and the movement of the armature causes the circuit to be at once interrupted at the contacts, whereupon the diaphragm is released and springs to its opposite position and the armature returns to its normal position, where the circuit is again closed. This operation is repeated rapidly as long as the circuit is held closed by the usual push-button or circuit-closer in the circuit. For conveying the sounds produced by the vibrating diaphragm directly to the ear the center of the cover is provided with an opening into which is fitted a removable nipple g, having an axial passage leading through it and spherically shaped at its outer end to fit into the cavity of the ear. The sounds produced by the diaphragm are thus made to act with the greatest efficiency upon the parts of the ear and subjects them to the desired exercise or agitation.

It will be seen that by utilizing the magnet which acts upon the diaphragm to also interrupt the circuit the evil effects of self-induction which are ordinarily encountered in the separate coil used for interrupting the circuit are eliminated and the magnet G acts more energetically and with the greatest efficiency for the purpose intended. The diaphragm is caused to emit loud, sharp, and well-defined sounds or noises which have the best effects upon the parts of the ear. The loudness of the sounds given out by the diaphragm can be regulated by screwing the cover of the easing more or less onto the case, thus adjusting the distance of the diaphragm from the polepieces of the magnet. The earpiece g is removable from the cover, so that the opening in the cover can be applied directly to the ear when desired. This is accomplished by providing the inner end of the earpiece with a spring-ring g, (shown in Fig. 6,) having two ears which are adapted to pass through the two notches g in the cover and afterward engage with the edge of the opening in the cover when the earpiece has been partially rotated.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. The combination of a vibrating diaphragm and means for applying the same to the ear, an electromagnet actuating the same and a circuit-controller independent of the diaphragm in circuit with the magnet and actuated by said magnet, substantially as described.

2. An instrument for massaging the ear,

consisting of a casing having an opening in one side for the application of the ear, a diaphragm immediately back of said opening, an electromagnet for Vibrating the diaphragm, a pivoted armature independent of the diaphragm, and a pair of contacts in circuit with said magnet and controlled by said armature, substantially as described.

3. In an ear-massage apparatus, the combination of a casing, an electromagnet fixed in said casing, a cover for the casing and a diaphragm carried by said cover, the cover being adjustable to determine the distance between the diaphragm and the poles of the magnet and provided with an opening against which to apply the ear, and a circuit-interrupter for said magnet, also located in the casing and actuated by the magnet for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I subscribe my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MILLER REESE I-IUTOI-IISON. 

